Prostate Cancer And Yoga: The Exercise May Help Patients

Yoga may benefit men undergoing radiation therapy for prostate cancer, according to a recent study.

Researchers at the Perelman School of Medicine found that men who attended yoga classes twice a week saw their quality of life improve overall and side effects from radiation remained stable throughout treatment.

During the study, researchers examined the impact of Eischens yoga on prostate cancer by having 68 individuals diagnosed with the condition participate in 75-minute yoga classes twice a week. Researchers monitored the impact the exercise had on the patients by determining fatigue levels, urinary incontinence, erectile dysfunction and overall quality of life based on a set of questions.

Sixty-six percent of the participants willing participated in the classes while another 40 percent were able to complete the program.

Though many patients experience fatigue, urinary incontinence, erectile dysfunction and decline in overall quality of life, researchers found that yoga may also help in strengthening pelvic floor muscles and increasing blood flow, which would improve both symptoms of erectile dysfunction and urinary incontinence.

The study was presented this week at the Society of Integrative Oncology's international conference in Boston.

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